7:1 My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you.
7:2 Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
7:3 Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
7:4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding your kinsman;
7:5 they will keep you from the adulteress, from the wayward wife with her seductive words.
7:6 At the window of my house I looked out through the lattice.
7:7 I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who lacked judgment.
7:8 He was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house
7:9 at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in.
7:10 Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.
7:11 (She is loud and defiant, her feet never stay at home;
7:12 now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.)
7:13 She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said:
7:14 “I have fellowship offerings at home; today I fulfilled my vows.
7:15 So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you!
7:16 I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt.
7:17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
7:18 Come, let’s drink deep of love till morning; let’s enjoy ourselves with love!
7:19 My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey.
7:20 He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon.”
7:21 With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk.
7:22 All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose
7:23 till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life.
7:24 Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say.
7:25 Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths.
7:26 Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng.
7:27 Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.
7:1 My son, keep my words, / And treasure up my commandments within you.
7:2 Keep my commandments, and live; / And my teaching, like the apple of your eye.
7:3 Bind them on your fingers; / Write them on the tablet of your heart.
7:4 Say to wisdom, You are my sister, / And call understanding your close friend,
7:5 That they may keep you from the strange woman, / From the adulteress who flatters with her words.
7:6 For at the window of my house / I looked out through my lattice,
7:7 And I saw among the simple ones, / I discerned among the youths, / A young man lacking sense,
7:8 Passing along the street near her corner; / And he takes the way to her house,
7:9 In the twilight, in the evening of the day, / In the deep of night and darkness.
7:10 And there comes a woman to meet him, / Dressed as a harlot and cunning of heart.
7:11 She is rowdy and defiant; / Her feet do not stay at home ?
7:12 Now in the street, now in the squares, / And at every corner she lies in wait.
7:13 And she grabs him and kisses him; / And with an impudent face she says to him,
7:14 I had to make offerings; / Today I have paid my vows.
7:15 Therefore I have come out to meet you, / To earnestly seek your presence; and I have found you.
7:16 I have decked my couch with coverings, / Colored spreads of the linen of Egypt;
7:17 I have sprinkled my bed with myrrh, / Aloes, and cinnamon.
7:18 Come, let us drink our fill of love until the morning; / Let us delight ourselves with love.
7:19 For my husband is not at home; / He has gone on a long journey.
7:20 He has taken the money bag with him; / He will come home at the full moon.
7:21 With her great persuasiveness she beguiles him; / With her smooth talk she compels him.
7:22 He goes after her immediately, / As an ox goes to the slaughter, / Or as someone in fetters, to the correction of the fool,
7:23 Until an arrow pierces through his liver. / As a bird hastens to the snare, / So he does not know that this will cost him his life.
7:24 And now, my sons, listen to me, / And pay attention to the words of my mouth.
7:25 Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways; / Do not stray into her paths.
7:26 For many are those whom she has brought down wounded, / And numerous are all who have been slain by her.
7:27 Her house is the way to Sheol, / Going down to the chambers of death.